Nikol Bogdan, Daniela Šincek, Dinka Caha

SELF-EFFICACY AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG SOCIAL WORKERS

Introduction

Self-efficacy and emotional regulation as predictors of depressive symptoms among social workers. Study examines self-efficacy & emotional regulation as predictors of depressive symptoms in Croatian social workers. Longer tenure linked to more symptoms. Highlights need for tailored workplace mental health strategies.

Abstract

Occupational health and safety have been a priority for the European Union (EU) since the 1980s. Over the past decades, the EU has developed a series of strategic documents underscoring the importance of mental health. Several of these specifically address mental health in the workplace, including Directive 89/391/EEC, which serves as a foundational legislative framework. More recently, the European Commission issued a Communication on a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health, further highlighting workplace mental health as a policy priority. These initiatives demonstrate a sustained and growing commitment by the EU to improving mental health outcomes within occupational settings. Against this backdrop, the present study aimed to examine the contribution of self-efficacy and emotion regulation to levels of depressive symptoms among social workers employed in Croatian social welfare institutions. Additionally, the research explored potential differences in depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and emotion regulation based on the length of service within the social care system. The study included 256 participants employed across regional offices of the Croatian Institute of Social Work. The findings indicate that social workers with longer tenure in the social care system reported more depressive symptoms. Moreover, self-efficacy and emotional suppression emerged as significant predictors of depressive symptoms in this population. Considering current EU policy directions, these results underscore the need for policymakers and organizational leaders to implement comprehensive mental health strategies that align with EU standards. Future initiatives at the EU level should more explicitly address sector-specific psychological risk factors and develop tailored interventions for professions characterized by high emotional labor. Such targeted approaches are essential to enhancing the effectiveness of workplace mental health policies.

Review

This study addresses a highly pertinent and timely topic, investigating the interplay between self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and depressive symptoms among social workers in Croatian social welfare institutions. Situated within the broader context of the European Union's growing emphasis on occupational mental health, the research effectively highlights a vulnerable professional group. The abstract clearly outlines the study's objective to examine these predictors and explore the impact of service length. With a substantial sample of 256 participants, the findings indicate that social workers with longer tenure report higher levels of depressive symptoms, and crucially, that both self-efficacy and emotional suppression significantly predict depressive symptoms in this population. This initial presentation establishes a clear link between personal resources, coping mechanisms, and mental health outcomes in a high-stress occupation. A notable strength of this work lies in its specific focus on social workers, a profession characterized by high emotional labor and a significant risk for burnout and mental health challenges, making the findings particularly valuable for targeted interventions. The connection drawn between the study's results and current EU policy initiatives on workplace mental health is also commendable, illustrating the practical implications of the research. While the abstract effectively summarizes the key findings, it would be beneficial for the full paper to elaborate on the specific instruments used to measure self-efficacy, emotion regulation (and specifically how emotional suppression was isolated from other regulation strategies), and depressive symptoms. Further detail on the statistical models employed to determine predictive relationships would also enhance the rigor and interpretability of the results, allowing readers to fully appreciate the nuances of the findings. The implications of this study are substantial, particularly for policymakers and organizational leaders within social care systems, both in Croatia and across the EU. The finding that longer service correlates with increased depressive symptoms underscores the cumulative toll of this demanding profession, necessitating proactive and sustained support mechanisms. The identification of self-efficacy and emotional suppression as key predictors provides actionable insights for developing targeted interventions that build personal resources and promote adaptive coping strategies, rather than suppressive ones. The authors' call for future EU initiatives to address sector-specific psychological risk factors and tailor interventions for professions like social work is a critical recommendation, moving beyond generic mental health strategies to truly effective and sustainable solutions for occupational well-being.

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